Photo by Albert Vincent Wu on Unsplash
I am taking a break this week as I’m off to Cornwall for three days for my daughter Hattie’s long awaited graduation. Like so many other students, including her twin sister, she didn't have a graduation ceremony at the end of her course because the pandemic hit and they were all sent home for lockdown. In the meantime both girls have remained in London and started jobs in their chosen careers of graphic design and journalism.
It feels great that, at last, we can celebrate Hattie’s achievements with the right kind of ceremony and pizazz, especially as she was awarded a First Class Honours degree in Graphic Design from Falmouth University. We are so proud of her. Her Dad and I will be in the audience clapping wildly as she goes up clad in gown and mortarboard to receive her certificate, just as we were when her twin sister Connie walked across the platform to collect her Masters Degree in Newspaper Journalism from City University in London back in January.
While I’m away, might I ask a favour? It’s been really interesting to see which of my pieces of writing have elicited the most response and I think, so far, those on shady gardens, ignoring our instincts, my Instagram hack and last week’s on being anti-retirement seemed to hit the mark with the most people.Is there any link there - doens’t seem to be! In coming weeks I shall be talking about “What will we do without the NHS?” and “Do our children really resemble us? Or do we just like to think they do?” What would you like me to write about? What pleases you, intrigues you or maddens you? Has anything happened to you recently that made you think differently? I’d love to know. I can’t promise I will feel I have enough to say on everything that is suggested, but I’ll definitely get back to you on your suggestions and I’m sure there will be one or two that strike enough of a chord with me to want to follow them up with my opinion and experiences. Leave your thoughts by clicking on the button below. And remember, you can read the other articles in my archive at any time by visiting Home Truths on Substack. In the meantime, do what you can to keep cool!
I'm taking a break this week
Dear Susy as a former CL subscriber I practically watched your twins grow up. Many congratulations to them on their respective achievements and congratulations to you on raising such clever young women.
I am a 57 year old woman with 4 children, the last of whom is in her final year of school. I am part owner of a retail business and have a very busy husband and a house and garden to look after. I give the background to let you know that i am very fortunate and quite busy!
The question i have been mulling on is whether i am turning into a grumpy older lady. My tolerance for people behaving in ways that seem to me to be illogical or selfish is now low. I used to be better at thinking they must have a reason for their behaviour, that you don’t know what is going on in someone else’s life etc but not now. I rarely say anything directly but my poor family do get me venting regularly.
I cant decide how much is me being intolerant because I’m busy and tired (like everyone, particularly due to COVID ) and how much is that I’m a now more confident in my opinions and less likely to defer to others.
This might be an interesting topic for you to explore at some stage.
Thank you for lots of interesting and thoughtful reading and congratulations on the graduations!!